God opposes everyone who is proud

James 4:6-7 (CEV)

God opposes everyone who is proud, but He gives grace to everyone who is humble.  So surrender to God. 

The word “surrender” is one of the four key “S” words that describe the ideal life of a Christian.  The other three are solitude, simplicity, and serenity.  Perhaps a fifth word could be “service”. 

The Greek word for surrender is “hupotasso” meaning “to subordinate, obey, or submit self unto”.  Christians are called to surrender our plans to God.  Actually we are to surrender everything to God (Romans 6:13).  If you feel resistance in your heart and mind when you hear the word “submit”, you have a problem with pride.  What are other signs of pride?

·   Insecurity

·   The need to be right all of the time

·   Being argumentative

·   Needing others to heed your views

·   Needing to be heard more than wanting to hear others

·   Anger

·   Impatience

·   Resists receiving correction

·   Likes to go by formal titles, e.g. Dr.

·   Stubbornness

·   Loves to compete and compare

The Bible is very clear about what God thinks of pride:

·  “Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.” (Psalm 75:5)

·  “There are six things which the Lord hates; yes seven which are an abomination to Him:  a proud look, ……..” (Proverbs 6:16)

·  Always remember:  “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34)

·  “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)

·  “In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.” (Proverbs 14:3)

·  “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (Proverbs 29:23)

·  “The pride of man will be humbled and the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:17).

·  “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12 NIV)

·  “………lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil." (I Timothy 3:6)

·  “…and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (I Peter 5:5)

·  “……boastful pride of life is not from the Father……” (I John 2:16)

Is there any doubt that God opposes pride?  The original word for oppose is “anthistemi” where the word “antithesis” comes from and literally means “to stand against”.  Just imagine anytime you show pride or arrogance that there’s God standing with His arms folded or hands on His hips staring down at you and showing immense disapproval.  What about the other imagery, that of God smiling at you, nodding His head in approval, giving His grace (unmerited favor) to you?  Which imagery matters more to you? 

Here’s some thinking by C.S. Lewis consider[1]:   “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride.  Immorality, anger, greed, and drunkenness are mere flea biters in comparison.  It was through pride that the Devil became the Devil.  Pride leads to every other vice.  It is the complete anti-God state of mind.  As long as you are proud you cannot know God.  A proud man is always looking down on things and people.  And, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” 

What areas of pride still exist in your character that you can work on via God’s help to eliminate?  What can you do starting now and in the near future to surrender more of your life and your life’s plans to Him?

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[1] CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, Copyright CS Lewis, Pte Ltd, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1952, HarperCollins Edition, 2011, pp. 121-122, 124